Monday November 19, 2018

Case of the Week

Lucky Lucy Lindstrom's "Northern Long Shot" Charity

Case:

Lucky Lucy Lindstrom finished college and headed west. She started as a financial analyst with a large company in Seattle. After just
four years, she became a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and began advising clients. Lucy also managed her own investments. With her keen insight into
financial markets, Lucy soon began to move from traditional stocks and bonds into futures and commodities markets. Lucy was so successful in these markets
that she now only manages her own large personal portfolio.

Somewhat late in life, Lucy discovered the wonderful world of philanthropy. She volunteered at her favorite charity and learned that giving someone in need
a helping hand is even more gratifying than making another million in the futures market.

Lucy had invested $1,000,000 in stock in a Canadian oil "wildcatter" with the name Northern Long Shot, Inc. This company has been drilling new exploratory
wells in the far north. Recently, the stock rose from the $1 per share that she paid to over $5 per share. After this success, Northern Long Shot decided to
"spin off" a smaller company with a portion of the successful wells. Lucy exchanged her $5 million in stock for 60% of the stock in Northern Long Shot, Inc.
After the exchange, Lucy decided to give the Northern Long Shot stock to a private charitable foundation to help those in need.

Lucy discussed options with her attorney. She asked her attorney about the ability of her private foundation to keep the Northern Long Shot, Inc. stock. Her
attorney noted that private foundations are subject to various rules on self-dealing, minimum distributions and excess business holdings.

Question:

Lucy said, "Wow! There are a lot of rules for private foundations. So can my private foundation continue to own the Northern Long
Shot stock?"

Solution:

Her attorney explained that under the excess business holdings rules, Lucy's private foundation is permitted to hold no more than
20% of a corporation's stock or business interest. The limit is 35% where a third person has effective control of the enterprise. For these provisions to
apply, the private foundation must hold more than 2% of the business stock or interest. Sec. 4943(c)(2).

After the gift of Lucy's stock, her private foundation owns 60% of Northern Long Shot, Inc. and the excess business holdings rules will apply. Because
Lucy's private foundation acquired the stock by gift, there is a five-year grace period to dispose of the stock and comply with the excess business holdings
rules. Sec. 4943(c)(6).

Lucy's private foundation held the stock for three years. At the end of that time, the other shareholders decided to purchase the Northern Long Shot, Inc.
stock for $7 million. Lucy's foundation then invested these funds and each year makes generous gifts to those in need.